The English Orphans | Page 3

George's propensity to tease had come upon him, and in enumerating
the defects in Mary's face, he purposely magnified them; but he
regretted it, when he saw the effect his words produced. Hiding her
face in her hands, Mary burst into a passionate fit of weeping, then
snatching the bonnet from George's lap, she threw it on her head and
was hurrying away, when George caught her and pulling her back, said,
"Forgive me, Mary. I couldn't help plaguing you a little, but I'll try and
not do it again."
For a time George kept this resolution, but he could not conceal the
preference which he felt for Ella, whose doll-like face, and childish
ways were far more in keeping with his taste, than Mary's old look and
still older manner. Whenever he noticed her at all, he spoke kindly to
her; but she knew there was a great difference between his treatment of
her and Ella, and oftentimes, when saying her evening prayer she
prayed that George Moreland might love her a little just a little.
Two weeks had passed since the last vestige of land had disappeared
from view, and then George was taken dangerously ill with fever. Mrs.
Howard herself visited him frequently, but she commanded her
children to keep away, lest they, too, should take the disease. For a day
or two Mary obeyed her mother, and then curiosity led her near
George's berth. For several minutes she lingered, and was about turning
away when a low moan fell on her ear and arrested her footsteps. Her

mother's commands were forgotten, and in a moment she stood by
George's bedside. Tenderly she smoothed his tumbled pillow,
moistened his parched lips, and bathed his feverish brow, and when, an
hour afterward, the physician entered, he found his patient calmly
sleeping, with one hand clasped in that of Mary, who with the other
fanned the sick boy with the same blue gingham sun-bonnet, of which
he had once made fun, saying it looked like its owner, "rather
skim-milky."
"Mary! Mary Howard!" said the physician, "this is no place for you,"
and he endeavored to lead her away.
This aroused George, who begged so hard for her to remain, that the
physician went in quest of Mrs. Howard, who rather unwillingly
consented, and Mary was duly installed as nurse in the sick room.
Perfectly delighted with her new vocation, she would sit for hours by
her charge, watching each change in his features and anticipating as far
as possible his wants. She possessed a very sweet, clear voice; and
frequently, when all other means had failed to quiet him, she would
bend her face near his and taking his hands in hers, would sing to him
some simple song of home, until lulled by the soft music he would fall
away to sleep. Such unwearied kindness was not without its effect upon
George, and one day when Mary as usual was sitting near him, he
called her to his side, and taking her face between his hands, kissed her
forehead and lips, saying, "What can I ever do to pay my little nurse for
her kindness?"
Mary hesitated a moment, and then replied, "Love me as well as you do
Ella!"
"As well as I do Ella!" he repeated, "I love you a great deal better. She
has not been to see me once. What is the reason?"
Frank, who a moment before had stolen to Mary's side, answered for
her, saying, "some one had told Ella that if she should have the fever,
her curls would all drop off; and so," said he, "she won't come near
you!"

Just then Mrs. Howard appeared, and this time she was accompanied by
Ella, who clung closely to her mother's skirt, looking cautiously out
from its thick folds. George did not as usual caress her, but he asked
her mockingly, "if her hair had commenced coming out!" while Ella
only answered by grasping at her long curls, as if to assure herself of
their safety.
In a few days George was able to go on deck, and though he still petted
and played with Ella, he never again slighted Mary, or forgot that she
was present. More than once, too, a kind word, or affectionate look
from him, sent such a glow to her cheek and sparkle to her eye, that
Frank, who always loved her best, declared, "she was as pretty as Ella
any day if she'd break herself of putting her hand to her mouth
whenever she saw one looking at her," a habit which she had acquired
from being so frequently told of her uneven teeth.
At last after many weary days at sea, there came the joyful news that
land was in sight; and next morning, when the children